Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1466079
6 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 APRIL 2022 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE demolition of a two-storey building in Mgarr could lead to a four-storey block with a blank par- ty wall overhanging the World Heritage Site of Ta' Ħaġrat in Mġarr. The proposed development on Triq Santa Marija by J&J Gauci Developments is located within the Area of Archaeological Importance, just 22m from the temples. No excavations are being proposed. But photomontages requested by the Superin- tendence for Cultural Heritage seem to confirm that the development will have a marked visual impact when seen from the temples, due to the creation of a large blank party wall overlooking the temples. Although the development conforms to existing policies which allow 16.3m-high development in the area, new guidelines introduced in 2020 require developers to assess the impact of their proposals on nearby historical monuments at an early stage, through the submission of photomontages show- ing the impact on the surrounding streetscape. The Superintendence is still assessing the photo- montages submitted a week ago, but had previously called for a downscaling of the project so as not to impact on views and vistas as seen from Ta' Ħaġrat. Four-storey block will create blank party wall over Ta' Hagrat JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority has approved new plans which in- corporate the unique façade of a modernist building in Balzan, while allowing three new storeys built in the same style. The PA reversed its decision to allow the complete demolition of Villa Walmerville, a pink, mod- ernist terraced house from the 1960s also known as Diamond House, on Old Railway Avenue. The controversial decision which sparked public outrage in the architectural community triggered an unprecedented ap- peal by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage. Following an agreement be- tween all the parties involved, the PA's appeal tribunal (EPRT) re- voked the permit issued in 2021, while ordering the PA to process new plans envisaging the reten- tion of the building's façade. As approved, the development retains the façade while includ- ing three new floors built in the same architectural style. The SCH had not objected to the internal demolition of the building. As approved the build- ing will include a maisonette at ground floor level and three apartments from the first to the third floor and an overlying penthouse. Only last year, the PA's plan- ning commission, then chaired by Simon Saliba, had approved the complete demolition despite the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage's objection to the dem- olition of the villa's façade. While recognising the façade as "an example of a traditional Mal- tese streetscape from the mod- ernist post war-era", the PA's development management di- rectorate still recommended its demolition because the existing streetscape is committed by sim- ilar developments, and is located outside the Urban Conservation Area, therefore bereft of any de- gree of protection. Balzan's iconic pink 'Diamond house' façade saved after heritage appeal Above: photomontage showing proposed development over existing structure (top)